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North Carolina

07/15/2013

Patrick Mahoney who works with
communities in states like Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Lousiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee, did a
question and answer feature in our Firewise Summer “How To” Newsletter. During his work as a
wildfire mitigation specialist in southwest Florida, Mahoney assisted small
neighborhoods in achieving Firewise recognition. He has served as a public
information officer on small and large fire incidents.

In this feature he answers an array of
questions regarding different challenges, success stories and general Firewise
concerns. Check out this article! If you
are a resident in one of the above listed states and want more information
regarding Firewise and how your community can be officially recogznied, feel
free to contact Patrick at firewisepatrick@nfpa.org.

03/20/2013

In response to requirements of the Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement (FLAME) Act of 2009, the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC) directed the development of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (Cohesive Stategy).

01/17/2013

In the Australian study, Children's Knowledge of Bushfire Risk, the authors recognize that to develop bushfire education programs that accommodate the knowledge and perspective of kids - they must be given an opportunity to voice their views. And in the book, The Power of Positive Deviance - How Unlikely Innovators Solve the World's Toughest Problems, the authors provide the principles needed to achieve a successful social paradigm shift; which includes involving stakeholders and going to improbable places and to unlikely people to find solutions; letting community members provide culturally appropriate expertise; and the concept of don't do anything about me, without me.

Incorporating those ideas along with input from other successful disaster preparedness programs, NFPA's Firewise Program staff conducted a series of six interactive workshops in Colorado and Texas during the summer of 2012. The workshops were an opportunity to talk with middle and high school students and their parents that had been recently impacted by a wildland fire.

In those sessions, the youth we met with shared what they know and don't know about wildfire, the areas they want to learn about, and the best ways to reach and motivate them to undertake actions that will contribute to reducing wildfire risk now and in the future.

At the six two-hour sessions, Firewise staff had the opportunity to talk with 105 students and parents. Invaluable insight was gained on how to target this demographic and what they want in future programs. This age group has voluminous potential to motivate both their peers and adults to implement mitigation actions that will make their communities better prepared for a wildfire.

01/16/2013

In yesterday's blog on NFPA's Wildland Fire Operations Division's report Engaging Youth in Reducing Wildfire Risk I provided a quick look at the virtually nonexistence of wildfire programs for youth that focus on prevention, preparedness, mitigation and the science of the home ignition zone. In this segment we'll focus on the topic's existing research.

Prior to the reports below (published 2008-2012), there was basically no research available on wildfire education programs for youth. Authors of the Evolution of Smokey Bear report published in 2012, found the majority of programs for older children don't include personal and home safety information; and fail to address the science of home ignition. The topic of wildfire is often wrapped into other curriculm, and is frequently a subtopic to a larger theme; while programs created by agencies and brought into schools are very difficult to fund, sustain and replicate. None of the youth programs reviewed addressed the issue of children's needs when wildfire has impacted their homes and community.

Research on youth and wildfire education programs reviewed for the Firewise Program report include those listed below. I highly recommend you read these excellent studies:

After finding a lack of information on what youth believe they want and need regarding wildfire safety, information and resources; Firewise Communities Program staff engaged teens and parents in six interactive conversational workshops on the topic. Tomorrow we'll share what we learned from those groups in part three of this series.

06/20/2011

I am so proud of Pisgah Forest Farms/Estates in North Carolina! The community is celebrating its 5th year of participation in NFPA's Firewise Communities/USA program, a voluntary initiative to protect local residents, their property and natural resources from wildfires.

Pisgah Forest Farms/Estates became a Firewise community in 2007. Since then, the community created and executed a variety of activities to help create the best wildfire prevention plan for the community. Pisgah Forest Farms/Estates’ anniversary was marked by a community wide debris cleanup campaign lasting the entire month of April followed by a picnic on June 11th.

“Because wildfires are burning hotter and faster than ever before, it’s more important than ever to take safety steps now,” said Norton Carey, Chairman of the Firewise Fire Prevention Committee. “Wildfires will happen, and we want to be as ready as possible to prevent damage to our community’s buildings, resources and of course, our residents.”

Some of the Firewise activities undertaken by the community over the years include:

With the help of the local NC Department of Forest Resources Rangers, community leaders visited all 62 homes to help conduct home assessments and educate residents as to what they can do to avoid their home becoming fuel for a fire

Community volunteers cleared tons of brush and vegetation around homes and roadways

Residents replaced flammable mulch and vegetation around their homes with non-flammable options outlined in a Firewise publication

Since becoming a Firewise Communities/USA site, Pisgah Forest Farms/Estates now has a yearly spring cleanup of debris (fuel) to help prevent a fire from spreading (the first such community cleanup in 25 years). They also have a fall leaf cleanup along their roadways to prevent dropped cigarettes from starting a forest fire.

I am so proud that Pisgah Forest Farms/Estates has reached this anniversary milestone. Their motivation and dedication has truly helped minimize wildfire risk factors, and their hard work surely has paid off.

Visit the Firewise Communities/USA area of the Firewise website to find out more about how your community can begin the assessment process and start on their path to safer homes and a fire-adapted community setting.